HAMPTON, Va. – Virginia Peninsula Community College partnered with the Greater Williamsburg Movement numerous times last summer for workforce information sessions. Things went so well they are teaming up again.
This time it’s for an 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. lunch-and-learn session Saturday, July 20, at the VPCC’s Trades Center in Toano. The focus is on marine skilled trades, manufacturing trades, transportation (CDL), allied health, and information technology (cybersecurity).
Charlie Williams, the initiative manager for the Greater Williamsburg Movement’s Project InSPire, said it will be a good way to illustrate what falls under the career technical education umbrella because many don’t know. They often think intense manual labor, but there’s so much more.
“There’s cybersecurity, there’s plumbing, there’s carpentry,” he said. “There’s so many things if you are so gifted that you can start into.”
Prospective students also often have a misconception about the cost, but it’s possible to attend for almost nothing. Many of the skilled trades classes offered through VPCC’s Workforce Development Center are sponsored by a program called Fast Forward, which automatically pays one-third of the cost for eligible Virginia residents. Other factors can reduce the cost even more.
“You could literally go and get started in a good career for peanuts,” said Williams, a retired businessman with a skilled trades background.
Williams’ group is providing a box lunch, knowing for many that’s a great incentive.
“I’m just trying to bring to the community understanding and information for options,” he said. “There’s a great deal of opportunities out here for young people as well as people who want to work and start a career.”
Eddie Swain, director of operations for Workforce Development at the College, said he hopes to have regularly scheduled events in the Williamsburg area.
The VPCC Trades Center is at 236 Industrial Boulevard in Toano. To RSVP and register, please CLICK HERE. For more information on the event, call (757) 825-4070 or email wfdinq@vpcc.edu.